Most Inspirational Moment
Petra
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was friendly for much of the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Avoid Aqaba if you can.
Reviews
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Reviews
petra and wadi rum by bike
Petra and Wadi Rum were the highlights, and the basics were covered in terms of being met at the airport etc., but we lost one day due to bad weather and the following day, despite excellent weather. Aqaba is very much a Russian holiday destination these days and we found the coral and snorkeling disappointing and surprisingly expensive. Nevertheless, Petra is impressive, as is the Wadi Rum desert. The hotels were OK.
A great trip but.....
We took the trip over the Christmas period and it was a good one, the crew (Jacob, Stoney, Silvia and Dolly) were all excellent and could not be faulted. The organisation was good, the driving excellent, (how Stoney gets that truck along some of those roads is unbelievable) and the food was good and plentiful.
There were 11 of us on the trip and we all got on very well which is a good thing if you are stuck on a truck for 2 weeks. Do not worry about charging batteries as the truck has a plug by each seat which can be used anytime whilst the truck is moving.
The White Water Rafting Option in Jinja was excellent and the safety precautions couldn’t be faulted, you are almost guaranteed to be thrown out at least once but we all felt perfectly safe when we were.
The campsites were in some cases very basic with no water in the toilets and cold or no showers but they were adequate and in others there were options for upgrades to rooms if required.
On day 8 the trip notes stated a visit to the top of the falls, what they did not say is that it involved a boat trip and then a trek along an uneven trek and a climb up several steps of uneven height, which was a bit testing for some people, although I see that this might have changed now but you might want to check.
The big but is that on our trip both the Chimps and Gorillas were unco-operative and people thinking of doing the trip need to be aware that there is no guarantee of seeing either. On our trip some of us trekked 5 miles along tracks and off track just to see 1 Chimp and for the Gorillas we left camp at 4.45am and drove for 3.5 hours to the start point and then split into 2 groups, the moderately hard trek group took 7 hours of hard trekking up and down steep slippery and overgrown hills there and back to see the Gorillas who were up in the trees and not all that easy to see, the easier trek group took 10 hours and 4 of our group needed stretchering out with exhaustion which cost them between $200-$300 dollars each. We then all had another 3.5 hour drive back to camp getting back between 20.30 & 22.30 hours, much to the relief of Jacob our guide. Although this is what happened on our trip, we were told that that was not the norm but…..
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the animals were amazing, especially the big cats in Kenya and it only took us 36 hours to see the 'big five', plus many others, ranging in size from Mongoose to Elephants.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you do this trip, make sure you are really fit, for us the Leisurely/Moderate 2 rating in the trip notes was very misleading, a lot of the roads are really rough and can be very uncomfortable and the Chimp and Gorilla treks were probably 4 & 5 respectively. For the Gorillas, make sure you take good boots, a lot of water, money and do hire a porter as they can be indispensable. Make sure you take earplugs as you might have to share sites with other less considerate campers and with early starts most mornings (7am & earlier departures) you do need your sleep. As long as you are aware of the above and are willing to 'rough it' at times then you will enjoy this trip.
Fantastic walks, amazing scenery, great food and a fantastic guide
Walking in North Cyprus was a lovely surprise. The trip was very well organised by Exodus and we had a fantastic guide called Gizer who was very knowledgeable, kind and professional. The trip was a hotel based walking trip at Christmas time. The weather on the whole was perfect for walking and showing off the amazing scenery. (just one afternoon of rain) The walks were varied, quite tough at times but very rewarding. We mostly visited castles and monasteries during the walks. The hotel was a good standard with nice big rooms and very friendly staff. The group were amazing and inspirational. The Guide was fantastic and organised great restaurants with really good food at very reasonable prices for us all. He was the perfect host to show off this beautiful part of the world and he ensured all of us enjoyed our holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
The walks and amazing scenery. The Manastir abbey was one of my favourite places so pretty and peaceful. The lunch spot on the walk on day 5 was amazing and will live long in the memory. Oh yes and the christmas eve dinner - lots of dancing yay
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was excellent, going out of his way to make sure everyone was happy and enjoyed themselves. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history and area and had a calm easy manner which made the trip so enjoyable. I would describe him as the perfect exodus guide.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Ensure good walking boots as terrain can be a bit tricky. Layers are needed in the winter particularly in December when it can be all sunny, warm, cold or some rain.
amazing trip, full of surprises
a great, well organised trip – The hardest thing i needed to do was to wake up on time – everything else was taken care of. Loved the safaris, bird watching, village walks/cycling, train journey, whale watching and more. Hotels were great too.
Most Inspirational Moment
Elephant safari was my highlight- so exciting getting close (but not too close) to the elephants. A totally majestic animal. I also loved the cycling through the village, meeting locals along the way- taking photos of breathtaking scenery along the way. To top it off, we had the most amazing food in the village, sitting in the open surrounded by trees and plants. Food was absolutely amazing, best meal of the tour - and the family was so friendly. They were so happy for us to dine at their home. was a total pleasure.
Thoughts on Group Leader
A Legend. Sujaan, looked after us throughout the trip and would make sure that we didn't miss out . on anything, including eating fresh fruits and local delicacies - not to mention teaching us how to make coconut daal.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You will be dining a lot in hotels- mostly buffets which is not great if you are vegetarian- i did feel that i was eating more western food, as i wanted to try out the local food. Apart from that, Sri Lanka has everything to offer. I felt very safe, being a solo traveller and a women.
Challenging riding, good location
A well-run trip – good organisation and helpful leaders and support crew. There is a variety of riding and dramatic scenery. A fair amount of uphill riding too, so fitness important.
The technical descents are challenging. I have ridden mountain bikes for over 30 years and parts tested me. Some riders on the trip had limited experience off-road, so found it tricky.
Weather was changeable – be prepared for anything!
Most Inspirational Moment
The fast descents on rough ground, going through remote villages, were great. And then being met by the support crew with lunch ready was even better!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Great organisation, and kept the group going well.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Practice your off-road skills before hand. You'll get more out of the trip if you're not always looking down and crawling along at walking speed. Get your fitness up. There are long rides, with uphill sections that can go on and on!
Absolutely awe inspiring.
Seeing and standing next to the real thing is unsurpassed by any screen be it 3D or otherwise.
Good pace if booking the extra excursion/visits, almost all of which were worth the effort.
The cruise part was very relaxing and a welcome break from the grey cold wet xmas hustle.
Most Inspirational Moment
The monuments were fabulous... 4 thousand years old... still coloured, still there !!! Physically and mentally impressive.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader Sayed was fantastic - enthusiastic, knowledgeable, friendly. He was even prepared to take a few of us out for extra walks in the evening and for meals in restaurants. He really did care. Great bloke.
Advice for Potential Travellers
DO NOT DO the light show at Phalae - its just rotten. This has not been updated since the day they put it in. Dialogue like some 50's Hollywood black and white film and just playing with the dimmer switch does not constitute a show.! Make sure you have plenty of small change for tips. Be prepared for constant hustling by people trying to sell you souvenirs almost everywhere. You do need to have Egyptian money as some places wont accept anything else but lots of places accept cards and other currency . You can change money on the boat, in hotels.
Awesome Finnish Wilderness Week
One of the best trips I have ever been on! Superb location, excellent accommodation with amazing food, well hosted by friendly guides.
Choice of activities was brilliant and the trip was relaxing as well as moderately active. Would recommend!!
Most Inspirational Moment
Husky sledging, river floating, quinzee building and the night time walk with the peaceful moment for reflection.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, good English.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't over pack. All clothing and equipment provided of good quality.
Madagascar on two wheels
Cycling on this trip is still the best way to explore Madagascar in just two weeks. The ever changing scenery from day to day and the terrain just made this trip one of the best, add in an excellent tour guide and support team, nothing was to much for any of them.
Most Inspirational Moment
Every day had its special moments, for me cycling through the small villages were among my highlights and of course seeing the Lemurs.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Armel couldn’t be faulted he tried his best at every stage to make sure we got the most out of our trip, his leg massage certainly helped with the bout of cramp I got on the first day of the bike ride, didn’t have a problem after that. Otherwise Armel was as good as any tour guide I have experienced, I noticed he was better at spotting the wildlife in the parks than the local guides were, thanks Mel.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just take every day as it comes, the scenery is ever changing, but except that this is a country trying to pull itself out of abject poverty, so not everything runs perfectly smooth, in saying that Armel and his team did everything they could to deal with any issues that cropped up. The whole experience of cycling in Madagascar is better than individual moments.
Great fun
A great fun trip full of new experiences in a beautiful environment. The guides and all the staff where friendly, helpful and very passionate about nature
Most Inspirational Moment
Spending a night in a quinzee that I helped to build on a frozen lake was a great experience
Thoughts on Group Leader
Both of the group leaders were awesome. Very passionate about nature
Advice for Potential Travellers
If your thinking about booking this trip..... book it, you'll love it
An excellent two weeks
A good mix of hiking in the Western Ghat mountains was followed by visits to interesting historical sites, a trip on a houseboat and a swim in the Indian Ocean. The trip had a change of itinerary from the original planned version due to damage from the earlier monsoon. However, Sam, our leader took us along some different trails, which with the special interaction needed with the local people probably made the holiday even better.
Most Inspirational Moment
When we were asking about a suitable place in the shade for lunch, we were promptly invited into a local's house (a complete stranger), to eat there.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very good indeed. He did particularly well in sorting out our bus, which had broken down late at night in the middle of nowhere.....
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't be too concerned if the plan has to change.....it will most likely lead to even better alternatives!